Tag Archives: beer

Why I’m Omission Beer’s biggest fan

Posted on November 23, 2012 | 8 comments

If you follow me on Twitter, you can probably tell that I’m slightly…ok completely, obsessed with Omission Beer. I love it so much I actually bought stock in the company. Craft Brew Alliance (BREW) owns the popular beer Redhook, as well as all of the Widmer Brother’s and Kona Brewing Company beers. Currently Omission makes up only a small part of their sales, but if the rapid increase in availability in DC is any indication, it will continue to grow as demand for great-tasting gluten free beer increases. You heard it here first people: Omission is the new Redbridge. Only better.

A few weeks ago I was invited to an event at Churchkey hosted by the great folks at Omission. Churchkey provided some great gluten free appetizers (tater tots!) and the beer was flowing as I got the chance to talk to the passionate staff (many who are celiac’s themselves) at Omission. I even spent 20 minutes talking to Rob Widmer himself (star shock). He was so gracious, and listened to me jabber about gluten free beer.

So, why is Omission my favorite gluten free beer? A few reasons:

  1. Taste: Most importantly, this beer tastes great. It doesn’t have an aftertaste like sorghum beers do, it’s not too light like a cider, and everyone who has tried it has loved it – gluten free or not.
  2. Tested: Something truly unique about Omission is that every single batch is tested by an independent lab using the R5 Competitive ELISA for gluten content. You can actually go to their website and look up your beer using a serial number on the bottle to see the test results. That is real commitment to the celiac community.
  3. Availability: I swear I’m seeing Omission pop up in a new store every week. It’s now in three stores right by my apartment. Since Redhook is such a popular brand, if you request it at your local liquor or grocery store, it’s fairly likely that they should be able to order it for you. Picture below is from Sherry’s Liquor in Woodley Park. which just got it in.

Where to find Omission in Washington DC: 

  1. Churchkey (Logan Circle)
  2. Bier Baron (Dupont)
  3. Whole Foods P Street (I’m guessing most Whole Foods carry it)
  4. Fuel Pizza and Wings (multiple locations)
  5. Madhatter (Dupont)
  6. Mellow Mushroom (Adam’s Morgan)
  7. Thunder Burger (Georgetown)
  8. Old Dominion Brew House
  9. Cleveland Park Wine and Liquors (Cleveland Park)
  10. Sherry’s Liquor (Woodley Park)
  11. Manhattan Market (Woodley Park)

Check out the interactive map on their website for updates.

In conclusion, I love Omission beer. I will drink it in a house; I will drink it with a mouse; I will drink it in a box; I will drink it with a fox. 

Get some.

Cheers!

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The next generation of gluten free beers

Posted on September 21, 2012 | 1 comment

Have you ever seen something so beautiful? A gluten free beer and the NYC skyline.

When I was in the city a couple of weeks ago I was really lucky to try a few new gluten free beers that really are in a class of their own.

First was Prairie Path Golden Ale from Two Brothers Brewing Co.

Prairie Path is crafted to remove gluten and has less than 5 ppm, according to their lab report (awesome they provide that!)

It has a “complex malt character” and is a “crisp, drinkable, savory ale that is light in color, but not flavor.” Check out that color!

Then I progressed to something a bit heavier – Harvester Brewing Dark Ale.

This beer “uses a very dark, near espresso-like roast” of chestnuts. Which “lend a roasty flavor and aroma with notes of chocolate and dark fruits.” You can really taste the chestnuts in this one! It’s a beer with some complex flavors, and is very sip-able (unlike Redbridge, which I can basically chug it’s so light).

While these beers may not be the easiest to find – it makes me giddy as a school girl at a carnival that there are some bold new brews coming to the market.

Cheers to beers!

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DC Gluten Free News Round-Up

Posted on August 20, 2012 | 1 comment

It seems like when it rains, it pours when it comes to new gluten free finds in this city. Here are a few things to check out!

1. Churchkey and Birch and Barley are getting gluten free flatbreads

They already have the best gluten free (and general) beer selection in DC, and now they’re going to be introducing gluten free flatbreads to their menu.They already had gluten free chickpea crackers, but this is taking it to a whole new level. I always salivated over the regular flatbread options on their menu and now I actually get to try one!

Chefs prepping the gfree dough, via the Churchkey Facebook page:

Just picture this thing becoming gluten free:

Heirloom Tomato Flatbread

2. The Protein Bar will be opening on Wednesday at 7th and D

This place serves healthy, high protein meals, many of which are gluten free! The amount of quinoa on their menu makes my heart do a happy dance. They also have a full allergen guide to refer to.

The Almond Berry Bowl, Black Bean Fiest Bowl, Vegan Quinoa Chili, and Superfood Vegan Salad are on my to-eat list. All of their blended protein drinks are also gluten free, and will make a nice substitute when I get one of those intense frappuccino cravings.

3. Pete’s Apizza makes a solid gluten free pizza. Broccolini continues to be gross.

I don’t know why I keep ordering broccolini – it’s bitter and ruins everything it comes in contact with. I ended up picking it off of my pizza, but loved the rest of it! Pete’s also has delicious gluten free pasta that I sampled at the DC Gluten Free Food Expo.

Anything else going on in the district that I should know about?

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Ranking the best gluten free beers

Posted on January 23, 2012 | 4 comments

While I’m obsessing over gluten free beer, I figured I might as well make it into a popularity contest and rank my favorites.

If I was presented with the following beers and asked to vote them off of the gluten free island, Survivor style, this is how I would do it.

Beers ranked best to worst:

The best:
1. Brunehaut Blonde Ale
2. Brunehaut Amber Ale
3. Estrella Damm Daura
4. New Planet Tread Lightly Ale
5. New Planet Off Grid Pale Ale

Good, but not my first choice:
6. Green’s Discover Amber
7. Green’s Dubbel Dark
8. Redbridge
9. St. Peter’s

Beers I won’t even drink
10. Bard’s Tale
11. New Planet 3R Raspberry Ale
12. New Grist

Beers I haven’t tried/aren’t released yet:
Dogfish Head’s Tweason’ale (to be released later this month)
Hambleton Ales Gluten Free Ale and Lager
Beljica Brewing

Any ones I’m missing? Agree/Disagree?

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Brunehaut: The best gluten free beer you’ve never heard of

Posted on January 5, 2012 | 46 comments

I’ve tried my share of gluten free beers. I’ve tried every one I can get my hands on.

And these were the best.

The BEST.

I had never heard of Brunehaut brewery before I saw their beers on a shelf at Horrock’s in Lansing, MI. Probably because they seem to be a really old, obscure brewery in Belgium that just happens to make two amazing gluten free beers. Wikipedia says that they’ve been in operation since 1890, which explains how they’ve actually managed to make a gluten free beer that has that lovely thing called taste.

I got one of their blonde ales, which I basically chugged the second I got home from the store. Amazing. Wish I had three more. Right now.

And an amber ale.

Both were full bodied, smooth, with no hint of weird sorghum or grass.

Both were also gold medal winners at the 2011 United States Open Beer Championships. I am so proud that our country has one of those. Go USA! 😉

I wish I could tell you where to find this beer, but the locations map on their website only has where you can find it in Belgium. I don’t know what twist of fate brought them to this random store in Michigan that I happened to go to; it just must have been my lucky day!

The best I can say is to beg a locally specialty store to order it for you. Cost should be no object, just get it.

These Brunehaut beers give me hope that one day us Celiacs can also enjoy specialty beers.

Cheers 😉

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Gluten Free Beer Map – Washington DC

Posted on June 15, 2011 | 2 comments

Check out my new page! It has a Google map that I created with restaurants and stores that sell gluten free beer. I love it when I’m surprised and a menu has a gf beer on it, but it’s also nice to be able to plan ahead where to go in your neighborhood.

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Sunday Treat at Astoria Market

Posted on November 21, 2010 | 3 comments

Today Nick and I ventured up to the Astoria Market at the Bohemian Hall Beer Garden, which we only knew had “an eclectic assortment of wares” and some kind of food and drink.
Well, it certainly was…something.  Basically just an elementary school gym-sized room with about 30 vendor tables.  There were weird Christmas decorations, some cool jewelry, art, hand-made cards, and some gluten-free pumpkin chocolate-chip muffins!  I believe that the name of the vendor was Elsa-Joy Baked Goods, but I can’t seem to find any information on it anywhere online. Maybe they’ll post about it on their blog soon.

Even though the muffins were extremely, ridiculously over-priced at $3.50 for a very small muffin and $7 for a mini-loaf, I felt that I had to try one.  If not for any other reason than supporting gluten-free vendors! The only other food option was from The Chocolate Swirl, which had truffles that got my hopes up.  But they said that they weren’t gluten-free 😦

After making a pot of coffee, I dug in:

Soooo… it was good.  The best part was the sticky top and the big, rich chocolate chips.  I have been missing the richness of gluten-filled pumpkin bread – like the 440 calorie slice from Starbucks I used to get.  I remember it being so dense and filled with moist, pumpkin flavor.  This muffin was a little pumpkin-y, but not like I remembered.  I might have to challenge myself to make my own pumpkin bread before autumn is over.

Now I’m relaxing, and popped open a St. Peter’s Sorghum Ale.  The first time I had this beer was at Peculier Pub on Bleecker Street – and the second time was not the charm.  Maybe the first time I had it I was wooed by the cool bottle?

 

For some reason this beer tastes skunked to me.  It could be because I’m not used to drinking beer nowadays, but it just isn’t enjoyable for me.  I’ll stick with Redbridge from now on.

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